Rail brace



Feb. 19, 1929.

1,702,390 J. G. MU E LL ER RAIL BRA-CE Filed March 1928 2 Sheets-$heet 1 QEHN . 7V1UELLER,

J. G. MUELLER RAIL BRACE Feb. 19, 1929. 7 702,390

Filed March 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 35H C". MuELLER, Iv

Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES JOHN G. MUELLER, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

BAIL BRACE.

Applicition filed larch 9, 1928. Serial No. 260,358.

This invention relates to a new improved form of rail brace and simplified clamps therefor.

It is an object of this invention to provide rail braces that are ada table to rails of various sizes and tracks 0 various gauges. It is also an object of this invention to provide a device of this class, which is composedof few and simple parts that are easily applied and strong and durable when appl ed.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a device which is, after being applied, positive in its engagement with the rails and not readily removed therefrom by accident or mischance, but is easily removed by a person whose duty it is to move said brace and clamps.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved brace shown applied to rails of a railroad track.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section thereof, showing the parts adapted to engage with the base of the rail.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the clampin device, detached from the rail.

Figure 4 is an end view of my device, showing the opening for the reception of the tie rods.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal and vertical section of the wedge member.

Figure 6 is a cross section of the wedge member, showing the form of opening therein for the tie rod.

In the drawings corresponding parts are indicated by corresponding numerals. The numerals 1 and 2 represent the rails, to which my brace and clamp are applied. The numeral 3 represents the tie rod, one end of which is bent, as shown by the numeral 4, to engage under and over the base flange of the rail, as shown in Figure 1. The other end of the tie rod 3 is screw threaded, as indicated by the numeral 5, and is adapted to receive thereon the screw threaded nut 6.

The clamping member proper is composed of two elements, one a clamping sleeve 7, the

other a wedging sleeve 13. The clamping sleeve is composed essentially of two parts, an inner part 8 and an outer part 9. The interiorly extending part 8 has a circular opening 10 therethrough for the reception of the tie rod 3. The inner part of the clamping sleeve 7 has its upper surface flattened, as indicated by the numeral 11, and engages the under part of the base of the rail. The outer part 9 of the clamping member? has an opening 12 therein, which is a continuation of the opening 10 and is rectangular in shape and adapted to receive a cooperating wedging sleeve 13.

This wedging sleeve 13 is rectangular or square in form and has an openin therethrough, oval in sha e,as shown in igure 6, with the long part 0 said opening extending up and down. The wedging sleeve is adapte to fit in the opening 12, as shown by Figure 2, and move up and down therein and on the tie rod, which passes through the oval openmg.

The outer part 9 of the clamping sleeve 7 near the opening 12 is formed into a clamping hook 14, adapted to fit over the outer base flange of the rail and cooperate with the upper flattened surface 9 of the inner part 8 of the sleeve 7 and with the wedge sleeve 13 to firmly engage and holdthe rail. The outside part of the clamping sleeve 7 at the point of meeting of the round and the rectangular openings therein is beveled, as indicated by the numeral 15, to engage a correspondingly beveled part 16 on the wedging sleeve 13 in order to give to the wedging sleeve a wedging effect when engaged by the screw 6 to brin the parts 7 and 13 into engagement with each other to hold the rail between the part 14 and the forward part of the clamping sleeve 7.

Fitting over the screw part of the tie rod 3 and between the wedgingsleeve 13 and the nut 6 is a locking washer 17 This lockin washer device is made of bendable steel and comprises two projections 18 and 19, adapted to be bent in opposite directions, one portion being bent to engage the part of the wedge sleeve and the other part being bent to engage the nut 6 to prevent the rotationof the nut in regard to the otherpart of the clamping devlce.

In order to provide a device of this kind composed of as little material as possible with the greatest amount of strength, I have provided on the various edges and corners reenforcing flanges 20 which are intended to 105 strengthen the parts and to make it unnecessary to use any more material than just enough to give it proper body.

In the operation of my device the tie rod is passed under one rail and the hook member 119 4 brought into engagement with the base flange thereof. The other end of said tie rod is passed under the other rail and the sleeve clamping member is passed over the end of the tie rod and brought into engagement with the outer base flange of-the other rail.

When these parts are in this position the wedging sleeve is then forced or passed over the end of the tie rod and brought into wet ging engagement with the clamping sleeve, after which the locking washer is placed upon said tie rod and the screw member 6 is applied thereto and brought into contact with the clamp member in such a way as to force the wedging member into engagement with the clamping sleeve so as to lock the parts in looking engagement with the outer base flange of the rail.

It will be understood that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as may be necessary to adapt it to the varying conditions and uses, and that the form presented in the drawings is merely a preferred form or preferred embodiment of my invention.

. It will be further understood that the present clamp may be used on rails of any size and is universal in its adaptability "ithin the scope of its intended use.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a rail brace, the combination with a tie rod, a clamping member mounted on the said tie rod, a wedging member mounted on said rod so as to have longitudinal and vertical movement thereon, and means for urging said wedging member into contact with said clamping member and the bottom of the rail base to clamp the latter.

2. In a rail brace, the combination with a tie rod, of a clamping sleeve engaging the base of a rail mounted on said rod, said clamping sleeve and wedging sleeve engaging substantially the whole of the under side of the rail base, a wedging member mounted on said rod, and means for urging said wedging member into contact with said clamping member and the bottom of the rail base to clamp the latter.

3. In a rail brace, the combination with a tie rod, a relatively long clamping sleeve ongaging the lower and upper faces of the base of a rail mounted on said rod, of a wedging sleeve engaging the lower face of the base of a rail'mounted on said rod, and means for urging said wedging sleeve into contact with the clamping sleeve and the bottom of the rail base to clamp the latter.

4. In a rail brace, the combination with a tie rod, of a clamping sleeve mounted on said rod and adapted to have only longitudinal motion thereon, of a wedging sleeve mounted on said rod and adapted to have both longitudinal and vertical movement thereon, and screw means for forcing the wedging sleeve into engagement with the clamping sleeve and the base of the rail to clamp the latter.

5. In a rail brace, the combination with a clamping sleeve adapted to engage the rail base on its upper side in sliding engagement with said tie rod and having a slanting surface thereon, a wedging sleeve adapted to engage the under side of the rail base mounted on said tie rod and having a slanting surface engaging the slanting surface on the clamping sleeve, and means to force the wedging sleeve in engagement with the clamping sleeve whereby the base of the rail is clamped.

6. in a rail brace, the combination with a tie rod, of a clamping sleeve engaging substantially the whole under side of the rail base in slidable engagement with said rod and having a part thereon to engage the upper part of the base flange of the rail, and a wcdging sleeve for engaging with said tie rod and adapted to engage said clamping sleeve and the under side of the rail base to grip the rail base and firmly hold it.

7. In a rail brace, the combination with a tie rod, a clamping sleeve having a slanting surface and an opening therein to receive said tie rod to permit longitudinal motion thereon but not transverse motion, a wedging sleeve having a slanting surface cooperating with the slanting surface on the clamping sleeve and having an opening therein to receive said tie rod and permit transverse and longitudinal motions thereon, and means on the tie rod to produce a clamping action between the clamping sleeve and the wedging sleeve due to the longitudinal and transverse motions of said wedging sleeve on said rod.

8. In a rail brace, the combination with a tie rod, a clamping sleeve and a wedging sleeve, said sleeves being each provided on each edge thereof with reenforcing flanges to give greater strength and permit a saving of material.

9. in a rail brace, the combination with a tie-rod, a clamping sleeve having a hook member on one end to engage the upper surface of the base flange of a rail, said sleeve having an opening therein to receive the tierod, said opening being rounded at one end and rectangular at the other end and extending through the upper wall of the sleeve beneath the hook member, a wedging sleeve fitting in the rectangular part of the opening and cooperating with the clamping sleeve to grip the rail.

10. In a rail brace, the combination with a tiered, of a clamping sleeve having a hook on one end to engage the upper surface of the base flange of a rail, said sleeve having an opening therein to receive the tie-rod, said opening being round at one end and rectangular at the other end and extending through the upper wall of said sleeve beneath rod, said opening being round at one end and rectangular at the other end and extending through the upper wall of the sleeve beneath the hook member, a wedging sleeve fitting within the rectangular part of the opening and engaging the tie-rod so as to have longitudinal and vertical movement thereon and cooperating with the clamping sleeve to grip the rail.

In testimony whereof, I afilx my signature.

JOHN G. M ELL R. 

